Even before Netflix blessed us with Lucifer season 5 part one, the trailer had left fans intrigued about the introduction of Lucifer’s identical twin Michael Demiurgos (both played by Tom Ellis). People who have followed the DC Comics adaptation by Neil Gaiman were doubly confused because the Michael Demiurgos in the show was, if anything, entirely different!
As it turns out, Michael on the show––despite being an Archangel similar to his Biblical counterpart and the adaptation by Neil Gaiman––is someone entirely made up by the makers. Naturally, there’s a bunch of questions surrounding this character. Let’s have a look at what we know about him.
1. Did Lucifer Have a Twin Named Michael?
If we’re talking about the existence of a biblical Michael, yes, there is an Archangel Michael, a common figure in the Old and New Testaments. And as far as him being Lucifer’s sibling is concerned, Michael is Lucifer’s brother in the Bible as well as Neil Gaiman’s DC comics adaptation.
Gaiman’s version in The Sandman, like the Biblical figure, does deem Michael and Lucifer siblings, but they’re most definitely not identical twins.
While Lucifer Morningstar, i.e. Satan, has widely been considered an evil angel who fell from heaven to rule hell, the modern adaptations of this figure have made him more of a desirable bad boy that everyone seems to love.
If you’re a literature nerd like me, you’ll trace this version of Lucifer Morningstar back to John Milton’s Paradise Lost, which portrays Satan as a tragic, wronged figure. Case in point, some of Milton’s most famous words:
“Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”
John Milton
2. Is Lucifer’s Michael Canon?
While the majority of Lucifer is based on the DC character created by Neil Gaiman, there are some major differences in the show. So, we can’t actually consider it canon because here’s what Gaiman had to say about the Netflix version of Lucifer:
“The theology and cosmogony of Lucifer is a long way from Sandman’s. It’s ‘inspired by’ Sandman, but you can’t easily retrofit the Lucifer version to get back to Sandman if you see what I mean.”
Neil Gaiman
So, no, Michael from Lucifer is not canon. However, Netflix is also doing an official adaptation of The Sandman, in which Lucifer is played by actress Gwendoline Christie!
I don’t know about you but this one does sound like a dream. It looks like we might see a completely different version of Michael Demiurgos as well in this adaptation, which could be canon.
3. Neil Gaiman’s Michael Demiurgos vs Lucifer’s Michael Demiurgos
Now since we know that Gaiman has already clarified that the Netflix show Lucifer is not actually close enough to the DC comics, there’s a lot to unpack about both versions of Michael.
Gaiman’s Michael is an otherwise kind and good-natured sibling to Lucifer who led God’s army against Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven
Lucifer’s Michael, the twin, is a sinister identical brother who comes to replace Lucifer Morningstar on earth and live his life since Lucifer is stuck down ruling hell.
Moreover, Gaiman’s Michael does not look anything like Lucifer!
Also, DC Michael is the only one of his kind who can have kids (something that apparently only Amenadiel can do on Lucifer).
Clearly, both Michaels are not cut from the same cloth.
Personally, I’d pick the DC version of Michael, but I’d love it if he looked like Tom Ellis. Who’d you choose?
4. Michael in the Bible
Archangel Michael is quite a popular figure in mythology, appearing in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity alike. Similar to Gaiman’s adaptation, the archangel Michael also leads God’s army against Lucifer Morningstar’s rebellion, during which Lucifer is defeated.
Biblical Michael is known as a healer, who—in some scriptures—was the replacement for Lucifer following the latter’s banishment to hell.
But the Bible was written a really long time ago, and there have been tons of changes in what would be “official” scriptures, so we can never really know what’s true.
Having said that, all this information reinforces entirely that Gaiman’s adaptation was a lot closer to the biblical Michael, while the show decided to steer a completely different way! The biblical Michael, as interpreted by Gaiman, is a revered archangel who heralds God’s army.
Lucifer chose to pick the exact opposite of what canonical Michael is, making him a one-of-a-kind character adaptation. If anything, twin Michael is perhaps eviler than Lucifer himself, which is saying something.
5. Lucifer Season 5 Part 2
So now you’ve already watched Lucifer season 5 part one, the mid-season finale of which left us at a cliffhanger. God appears on the show for the first time to separate his sons engaged in a fight. Part two is scheduled to release in mid-2021, but we don’t yet know the exact date.
Production had halted last year due to the pandemic, which set the season back further than the makers or fans would have expected. But it’s back on the floors now, so we should be getting part two soon, and the show is already prepping for a season 6.
So we’ve still got a lot to look forward to.
While the main cast of Tom Ellis (Lucifer and Michael), Lauren German (Chloe Decker) Kevin Alejandro (Daniel Espinoza), D.B. Woodside (Amenadiel), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Mazikeen), Rachael Harris (Dr. Linda Martin), Aimee Garcia (Ella Lopez), and Scarlett Estevez (Trixie) are scheduled to appear in part two, we’re also gearing up for the return of Inbar Lavi (Eve) and Dennis Haysbert (God).
Although Netflix has not yet released a trailer for part two, let’s keep our fingers crossed to hear about it soon.
What are you expecting from part two of Lucifer season 5? Tell us in the comments!
6. About Lucifer
Lucifer is an American urban fantasy drama series created by Tom Kapinos. It is based on the DC Comics character from The Sandman, created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Entertainment produce the series.
Originally premiered in 2016, Lucifer was picked up by Netflix when Fox canceled the show after three seasons. Lucifer is set to end with Season 6, which is rumored to air early in 2022.
The series revolves around Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), the Devil, who abandons Hell for Los Angeles, where he runs his own nightclub named ‘LUX’ and becomes a consultant to the LAPD. All the while working on his character development to be a better Devil/Angel.
The latest season featured the retirement of God, a lot of broken hearts and mending relationships, ambitious Angels, and the Devil taking it upon himself to right the wrongs of his dear ol’ dad, God.
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